10 Essentials: Patrik Ervell

Patrik Ervell may be the first designer who can say he's taken and passed the foreign-service exam. The California-raised Swede spent the late '90s hitting the books hard at Berkeley where he studied international relations. Turns out the dude didn't want to work at an obscure embassy somewhere though—he wanted to make clothes. So, he did a total 180 (radical changes at Berkeley?! Who knew?) and began his journey toward crafting simple, ultrasleek menswear with modern tailoring and throwback details like club collars. Cool guys like Ryan Gosling can't get enough of them. And neither can we, which is why we've made him one of our Best New Menswear Designers. Get to know Ervell here with the boots, beverage, and breed of canine that he can't do without.

Photo: Ysanya Perez

2/11

1. Patrik Ervell black leather backpack

The straps are woven horse hair but they look like a heavy-duty nylon. They're simple but so beautiful. Each one is made in the USA too.

Photo: Ysanya Perez

3/11

2. Dr. Martens lowtops

The '90s were really formative for me, and I love my three-hole black oord Doc Martens. I spray-paint the soles black to make them completely anonymous and unbranded. They really do last forever.

Photo: Courtesy of The Economist

4/11

3. The Economist

This is the only thing I subscribe to in an actual printed paper format anymore. (My GQ is delivered digitally now, of course.)

Photo: post-it.com

5/11

4. Post-its

There is no software or app that rivals the efficiency and practicality of a Post-it. Period.

Photo: Amazon.com

6/11

**5. Levi's 501 jeans **

I love to buy vintage pairs from the late '80s or early '90s because I prefer the fabric and finish they used during that period. Usually I will have them taken in so that they're slightly tapered from the knee down. They look a little bit Jerry Seinfeld but in a good way, if you can imagine that being possible.

Photo: Ysanya Perez

7/11

6. Patrik Ervell standard button-down

Lately I've been wearing one in dark denim. It's a serious workwear fabric but in a shirt like this it becomes elegant. We make them at an old men's shirting factory here in New York.

Photo: Amazon.com

8/11

7. Takaokaya Japanese brown rice tea with matcha powder

The tea bags come sealed in aluminum pouches, so they look very clinical—almost like a dose of drugs. I have a cup every afternoon around four without fail.

Photo: Courtesy of Apple

9/11

8. Pandora for iPhone

I remember when I was a kid I had a Walkman with a radio setting. This app is kind of like that, which is what I love about it.

Photo: Courtesy of Calexico

10/11

9. Calexico food cart

I'm from California and finding good burritos in New York is a struggle. This truck parks two blocks from my studio though and the guys really understand how to make a burrito correctly. In the city, that's a total rarity.

Photo: via flickr.com

11/11

10. Coonhounds

These dogs are the classic American hunting breed—real man's dogs. I had one for a few years named Lucy. One of these days, I plan to adopt a Lucy II.

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